Century 21
3161 Olsen Drive,
San Jose,
CA
95117
3161 Olsen Drive,
San Jose,
CA
95117
18 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Syufy Enterprises
Architects: Vincent G. Raney
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jun 11, 2014 — City council grants Century 21 dome theater historical status
- Mar 31, 2014 — Will the dome open once more?
- Jan 11, 2014 — Century 25 loses the fight
- Jan 4, 2014 — Century 21 could become landmark
- Jul 13, 2013 — Preservationists working to preserve San Jose's Century dome movie theaters
- Mar 31, 2013 — "2001: A Space Odyssey" 45th Anniversary – The Cinerama Engagements
- Jun 14, 2012 — REMEMBERING CINERAMA (Part 53: San Jose)
- Dec 24, 2009 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 45: Las Vegas)
- Aug 15, 2009 — "Apocalypse Now" 30th Anniversary
The San Jose Century 21 was opened November 24, 1964, with “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”. The intention was of using the 3-strip Cinerama process; but it actually only showed 70mm.
The screen was later replaced with a flat model, but has remained intact as a wonderful throwback to the domed Cinerama palaces of the 1960’s. It was closed March 30, 2014.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 55 comments)
Happy 50th! The Century 21 opened this day in 1964.
To celebrate, here’s a list of the Century 21’s bookings during its first decade as researched from their original newspaper promotion.
1964-11-24 … IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD (19 weeks)
1965-04-06 … MY FAIR LADY (33)
1965-11-24 … THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES (15)
1966-03-09 … THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (14)
1966-06-15 … BATTLE OF THE BULGE (9)
1966-08-17 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (58)
1967-09-26 … GRAND PRIX (43)
1968-07-23 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (87)
I saw so many films here over the course of literally five decades (from the early 1970s, through 2011)…probably the most “significant” would be the time in 1983, when my dad took me to see Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” during its 15th anniversary re-screening.
Fifty years ago today Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” opened its exclusive Silicon Valley roadshow run at Century 21. It ended up running 87 weeks, making it the longest, continuous run of the film in the United States (and second longest in the world just behind Toronto’s 127-weeker).
Opened with “It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad World”.
I’m really happy with the fact that this theater’s become a landmark, but I really, really want it to remain a theater in some way.
Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. Century 21’s year-plus run is mentioned in the piece.
Passing along the link to a 12-page 40th anniversary RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK retrospective which features a historian Q&A and 70mm playdate chronology. The Century Domes get mentioned several times.
Does anybody know who had the photo albums at the last screenings at the Century 21 back in 2014? I remember there were was a set of photos with a race car and a friend’s dad dressed as one of the drivers.
Preliminary plans submitted for renovation of Century 21. From the Hoodline aticle linked below:
“At this point, it’s unclear what the old theater will be reused as, but there are several options on the table. Despite not yet having a specific use, the developer and owner, Federal Realty Investment Trust, plans to renovate the building in a flexible way so that it can cater to several different types of businesses. According to a preliminary proposal obtained by the Mercury News, “the design team will include provisions to accommodate the ability to support office, kitchen, cafeteria, gym, and small data center.” It could also become a restaurant or a performing arts center.”
Hoodline
A chronology of San Jose’s 70mm presentations history has recently been published/updated. The Century Domes, of course, get several mentions in the piece.